Synopsis/blurb......
Award winning author Eric Beetner's latest novel begins with an abandoned truck, a dead body and a sack of cash. So begins a treacherous and twisty tale of escape and survival. A path of blood and destruction follow at every turn. It’s all leading to a showdown. Sometimes there is no escape without confrontation.
Another good time had with Eric Beetner and his tale of escape, family, rescue and revenge.
Jacy, a teenage girl, suffering abuse by her stepfather asks her brother, Nash to return to help her leave. Nash himself fled Noirville under a cloud after the death of the local sports star hero. Events are further complicated by the fact that the stepfather, Brian is also the corrupt sheriff of Noirville and in bed with a local drug gang.
The escape goes to plan, until it doesn't. A stop-off for a beverage, morphs into a fight for survival as the pair discover a truck, a corpse, a bag of cash and a murderer in quick succession. More bloodshed and death ensues and before too long Brian is on their trail, trying to cover his tracks and re-cement his position as top dog in Noirville.
Usual Beetner trademarks prevail; a strong pace, well written scenes of action and confrontation, a few splashes of humour and strong characters you root for, while still admiring the chutzpah of the villains. I was reminded of Jim Thompson's Lou Ford with his portrayal of Brian the abusive sheriff, though here Brian's true character is more obviously identifiable to those he comes into regular contact with.
A lot about family, sexual abuse, drug use, drug gangs, shared history and small town corruption. Underscored by love, loyalty and a determination to break free, exact some vengeance or die trying.
My kind of book.
4.5 from 5
I've enjoyed a couple from Mr B before - The Year I Died Seven Times and Over Their Heads (with J.B. Kohl)
Eric Beetner has his website here.
Read in July, 2018
Published - 2014
Page count - 119
Source - Purchased copy
Format - Kindle
Sounds like a potent read, Col. I like the premise, and I think it's interesting that you saw shades of Lou Ford here. Glad you enjoyed the story.
ReplyDeletePlenty here for me to get my teeth into Margot.
DeleteI’ve got some of his work waiting for me on the Kindle.
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested to see how you get on with Beetner's books Elgin
DeleteAnother books with some dark and heavy subjects, but at 119 pages, worth a try someday.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, possibly out of your comfort zone. The sheriff is a bad egg, something we see a bit graphically on occasions Tracy.
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